VERZET & CENSUUR Een onderzoek naar het verbod van tijdschrift De Ster in de Franse Tijd

Abstract

This article researches in what way Dutch magazine De Ster insulted or offended the government of the Batavian Commonwealth in 1806, which led to the banning of this magazine. Although the freedom of the press was considerably restricted under the French occupation, some critical publications about the political circumstances still appeared. In this complex period De Ster wanted to profile itself as an enlightened and serious magazine, filled with items about various matters. Among these items the editorial staff of De Ster placed risky, sometimes even oppositional articles that often used clever metaphors to hide their message. Nevertheless, current affairs were also openly criticized. The analysis of various articles from De Ster shows that the magazine formed a threat to the government. When De Ster openly condemned the arrival of Louis Napoleon as King of Holland, the editors had gone too far and the government decided to cancel the magazine. It also seems that the banning of De Ster had an exemplary function, as a warning to other publishers, printers and editors.